2nd Annual Batho Pele Learning Network

A Case Study on Revitalization of Small holder

Irrigation Schemes in LimpopoProvince“RESIS”

Dr. Massoud ShakerLimpopo Department of Agriculture

Nelspruit, 29, 30, 31 March and 1 April 2005

CONTENT

• Problems and targets• Extent of the Government initiated Irrigation

schemes, their status and concept solutions• Adopted approach for revitalization of Small

holder Irrigation Schemes in Limpopo Province• What has been planned and implemented and

what are the achievements and challenges• Impacts

The Problems[From International Conference, Addis Ababa, Dec 2003]

• Malnutrition, food insecurity, poverty, environmental threats

• Per capita food production not improving, climate variability impacts

• Declining investments in agriculture and in irrigation -- poor reputation of investments in irrigation

• Clear linkage between water and reduced poverty, positive economic growth

• Need ways to encourage more investment in water for agriculture

Cereal Yields (MT/Ha)

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

1961

1965

1969

1973

1977

1981

1985

1989

1993

1997

2001

MT/

Ha

DevelopedCountries

Asia andPacific

LatinAmerica andCarribeanSub-SaharanAfrica

World Bank Commitments I&D projects (Millions US$)

0500

10001500

200025003000

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

Year

Mill

ions

US

$

0

5

10

15

20

25

WB Commitment (millions US$) Number of Project

Major reasons for decline of investment in agricultural water use

• Concerns about past performance of investments in agricultural water use:

• Institutional

• Financial and economic

• Technical

• Social, equity, poverty

• Environmental

Impact of rainfall variability on GDP and Agricultural GDP growth

-80

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

8019

8219

8319

8419

8519

8619

8719

8819

8919

9019

9119

9219

9319

9419

9519

9619

9719

9819

9920

00

year

%

-30-25-20

-15-10-50510

152025

rainfall variabilityGDP growthAg GDP growth

Targets set by FARA and FAO

• Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA): annual increase of agricultural production of 6% needed to achieve food security by 2015

• FAO: of the 6% growth: – 75% from intensification

– 25% from expansion

NEPAD Targets on Investment in Agricultural Water

• NEPAD recognizes important role of water controlin increasing productivity and reducing hunger

• NEPAD sets specific targets for 2015:• small-scale water control (14.2m ha, US$14,4b)

• rehabilitation of irrigation schemes (3.6m ha, US$8,9b)

• development of irrigation schemes (1.9m ha, US$13.6b).

• Conducive policy and institutional environment

• Learn lessons from the past; identify innovative best practice.

Revitalization of small holder irrigation schemes in Limpopo

ProvinceResis program

2004-2010126 schemes covering about 19730 ha, involving 12432 farmers directly,

holding agricultural infrastructure to the replacement value of R4 billion, mostly

dilapidated, moribund and none productive

Water Law Review 1997:LIMPOPO Grassroots Workshops

Grassroots workshops (63) were conducted in 1997 in all the

provinces with smallholder and commercial farmers and other

stakeholders, on new water law and proposed irrigation policy.

These are the ROOTS of RESIS

• Irrigation is a major economic factor in terms of exports, employment and the potential for rural food security.

• Agriculture is by far the most important contributor to formal jobopportunities.

• Water, not good land, is the limiting factor. Groundwater is important for food security.

• Many communal irrigation schemes are in disrepair, although they represent significant investment in infrastructure.

• Many small-scale farmers on schemes are experienced irrigation farmers.

• Lack of marketing opportunities and poor communication infrastructure hampers small scale farmers.

LIMPOPO Grassroots Workshops:Situation & Prospects

• Ensure that many years of expenditure on infrastructure & development & experience gained by samllholder farmers bear fruit in the long term.

• The approach that Government maintain and manage the irrigation schemes has not been successful, despite major investment and dedicated inputs from many.

• Sprinkler irrigation is attractive to small farmers, but can lead to excessive water use. There is evidence of over-irrigation on many schemes.Short-furrow flood irrigation is extensively applied and can be efficient.

• Much of the infrastructure requires upgrading and operations are very wrapped by institutional aspects

LIMPOPO Grassroots Workshops:Situation & Prospects

National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998)

• Water User Associations (NWA, Schedule 4)

• Existing lawful water use• Water as a social AND economic good

National Guidelines on Agricultural Water Use

• Cooperative Governance– National: CCSIS– Provincial: CCAW & Task Teams (6)

• Water conservation• Water management• Institutional arrangements for water use• Training and capacity building• Monitoring & evaluation

Limpopo Provincial Growth & Development Strategy

• Three pillars: mining, tourism, agriculture• Past 5 years: Limpopo best economic

growth in SA through investment in mining & tourism

• BUT: Jobless growth!• NOW: Agriculture recognized as best job

grower:– Mining – 8 jobs/R1m invested– Agriculture – 40-50 jobs/R1m invested

Integrated SustainableRural Development

Program

Provincial Growth & Development Strategy

- Economic Cluster

IRRIGATEDAGRIC

RAINFEDAGRIC

ACCESSROADS

STOCKFARMING

TRAININGCAPACITY

INSTITUTIONARRANGEM.

RAINWATERHARVEST

MENTORINGAFTERCARE

SUPPORTSERVICES

FOOD SECURITY EMPLOYMENT ECON. GROWTH

SOCIO- ECONOMIC STABILITY IN RURAL AREAS

REVITALISATION OF SMALLHOLDER IRRIGATION SCHEMES(RESIS)

IPSPPROGRAM

MANAGEMENT

LIMPOPODEPT. AGRIC.

IMPLEMENTATION

Revitalisation vs Rehabilitation“Rehabilitation” – the engineering centred re-construction of dilapidated infrastructure

“Revitalisation” – a comprehensive programme to structure, train and capacitate the smallholder farmers to run their scheme profitably and sustainably.

Pilot Phase – Thabina Water Care Programme – MakulekeCase specific information

200 ha; vegetables, maize, beans; average landholding is 1.5 ha; open-canal system from river diversion; no external storage; socially diverse, over 10 villages involved.

200 ha; cotton (5 ha plots) and food plots (0.2 ha); pressurisedsprinkler system from a dam with storage for a 5-cropping seasons; a cohesive community with strong history of struggle.

Budget allocation 0% preparation90% infrastructure rehabilitation5% farmer and organisational training5% institutional set-up

10% preparation50% infrastructure rehabilitation30% farmer and organisational training10% institutional set-up

Planning tools - Pre-development study - Pre-developement study - Participatory planning through mapping excercise- Step-by-step process plan

On-site time spending

Less than 2 years 3.5 years plus follow-up

Training components

- Maize crop training - Maize crop training- Project management training- Scheme management training- Mind-mobilisation/taking ownership- Cotton training

Capacity building components

- Turnkey approach- Participation in decision-making

- Turnkey approach- Facilitation of decision making (democratic principles, transparency, accountability, etc.)- Follow-up coaching

Local organisation Establishment of WUA at scheme level, 4 ward-committees. MC consists of 5 executive members and 2 members of each ward.

Establishment of WUA at scheme level, thematic sub-committees with representatives to general MC.

Infrastructure rehabilitation

Repairs of existing system, no re-design. Repairs of existing system, no re-design. Strong role for the Technical Committee.

Land tenure Land leasing within the customary land tenure system was propagated, but has come under strong criticism. Still no more than 60% of the area is cropped.

Dispute over the area between 2 Traditional Authorities, temporary jurisdiction lies with the State. The area is fully cropped since rehabilitation.

Marketing/ investment strategy

Promotion of joint planning and sale, ‘Marketing Manager’ as a position in MC. In practice hardly any co-ordination.

Joint venture with a large cotton company. Yearly investment costs are offered as a loan by the company in exchange a guaranteed price. In practice only two farmers have made profit, the rest are in debt.

RESIS lessons learnt – developing ‘best practice’

RESIS Objectives are as follows:Transformation of rural society through raised incomes of households on irrigation schemes and in surrounding villages

• Farmers – authority and capacity to farm and manage scheme profitably

• Broader community – water for productive uses, and sharing in markets and training

• Local organizational development

Transformation of Government Service

• Staff training and capacity building

• Streamlining of government systems

RESIS Objectives

RESIS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

Programme Management Unit

Project Coordinator

Senior Engineering Manager

Lead Economist Provincial Facilitator Training Coordinator Farming Systems

Coordinator

Engineering Services

Engineering Services

District Facilitator

District Facilitator

District Facilitator

Scheme Facilitator

Scheme Facilitator

Scheme Facilitator

Programme Management UnitChair: LDA General Manager: Projects & Infrastructure

General Managers, District HeadsChief Financial Officer

Ndzalo Managing DirectorRESIS Programme Coordinator

Programme Coordination and SupportRESIS Program Coordinator

Programme Administration & Logistical Support

DISCIPLINE PRIVATE SECTOR SERVICES DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Procurement, financial and contracts management As required LDA Chief Financial Officer

Legal Services As required LDA Legal Services

MIS & GIS As required LDA GIS unit to be established

Media & communication services As required LDA Communications Manager

Extension staffFarmer Management CommitteesSpecialists as requiredMonitoring and Evaluation

Farmer Training CoordinatorFarmer TrainersUnderstudy Trainers

From the community: Farmer TrainersAssistant Trainers

Farmer Training Team

Farming Systems CoordinatorSpecialists as requiredFarm Systems Support

Lead EconomistAgricultural Economists Specialists as requiredAgricultural Economics, Marketing

& Credit

Engineering Team Coordinator, (senior Manager Engineering)TechniciansEngineers

Senior Engineering ManagerEngineering consulting servicesAgricultural & Rural Engineering

Extension officers assigned to RESIS schemesProvincial FacilitatorDistrict FacilitatorsScheme Facilitators

Social & Institutional Development

TEAM MEMBERSFROM THE DEPARTMENT

TEAM MEMBERS FROM PRIVATE SECTORDISCIPLINE

Multi-Disciplinary TeamProgramme Coordinator

OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE MULTI DICIPLINARY TEAM (MDT)The overall objectives of the MDT are as follows:• To provide specialist services for the revitalisation of smallholder irrigation schemes

in Limpopo Province.• To promote rural development and job creation on the irrigation schemes and in

adjacent communities.• To build the capacity of LDA staff to ensure a phased withdrawal of external

specialists.• To investigate feasible options for the revitalisation of individual irrigation schemes,

and recommend how to proceed to ensure economic and financial viability.• To do business modelling for various commodities.• To solicit support for proposed interventions among political and other stakeholders.• To conduct community mobilisation/information gathering exercises with a view to

maximising beneficiary participation in planning and implementation.• To ensure election of management representatives from among beneficiaries to

represent people from across the spectrum of poverty within the village.• To facilitate transformation of government services as needed to improve service

delivery mechanisms.• To obtain or provide other professional services as may be required.

Resis implementation cycle

Implementation cycleFour year cycle on each schemeGeneric steps, with a major focus on the people in and around the schemes. Infrastructure development follows only after community consultation and prioritization.

Go/ No Go assessmentAwareness & buy-inPre-Development SurveyLocal Organizational DevelopmentTrainingImplementationMonitoring & AftercareEvaluation & Refinement

Limpopo Revitalisation of Smallholder Irrigation Schemes

RESISProject Cycle

(4 years per scheme)

RESIS Expected Impacts

DistrictIrrigation schemes

Irrigated area

Irrigation farmers

Drylandfarmers

Homestead farmers

Access roads

Dipping tanks

Stock watering systems

RESIS schemes

current irrigation

current plotholders

200 ha dryland per

village

100 homestead

rainwater harvesting

tanks

4 km per village

scheme1 tank per

village1 system

per village

(no) (ha) (no) (no) (no) (km) (no) (no)

Bohlabela 15 4,747 2,189 5000 2500 90 20 20

Capricorn 19 2,572 1,733 4000 2000 110 30 30

Mopani 14 2,963 2,277 4900 2400 80 20 20

Sekhukhune 30 4,679 3,011 6300 3100 180 40 40

Vhembe 43 4,587 3,126 7100 3600 250 60 60

Waterberg 5 182 96 300 200 30 10 10

Total 126 19,730 12,432 27600 13800 740 180 180

(ha) (no) (no) (no) (km) (no) (no)

RESIS Financial Summary of Activities

Activity Description TotalFacilitation Scheme revitalization facilitation 80,016,000Training Scheme & water management, crop and

entrepreneurship training 41,022,000Aftercare Aftercare on training 61,533,000WUAs/institutions Facilitation and legal establishment of

WUAs 41,022,000Water supply Bulk water infrastructure 236,760,000Infield irrigation Infield irrigation equipment 98,650,000Access roads 4 km road per village 184,250,000Rainwater harvesting 100 tanks per village 92,125,000Stock dam & watering system 1 dam or system per village 36,850,000Dip tanks 1 tank per village 4,606,000Dryland Support for 100 hectare per village 210,045,000

1,086,880,000

SMT

PROGRAMMANAGEMENT

UNIT(PMU)

PROGRAMLEADER AND

COORDINATOR(NDZALO)

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM

ECON& MARKET

TEAM

MIS& GISTEAM

TRAIN-ING

TEAM

SOCIALINST.DEV

TEAM

COMMUNICATION

TEAM

FARMSYSTEM

SUPPORTTEAM

LEGALSERVICES

TEAM

FACILI-TATIONTEAM

ENG.TEAM

ENVIRON-MENTAL

TEAM

PROCURE-MENT

SERVICESTEAM

COMPOSITION

?RESPONSIBILITIES

?

RESIS MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONALSTRUCTURE AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF OPERATION

CCAWCCSIS

Awareness, Orientation camp

Pre dev. and Concept planning

Implementation

MonitoringResearch

Data cap. Ana.

ProductionPlanning and

implementation

EmergencyRepair to

infrastructure

Resource Conservation

The wholearea

Other infraWorksArea of

influence

Crop andmanagement

training

PRODUCTION

Market supportAfter care

LONG TERMINFRAREHAB

COMMISSIONINGO+M PROTOCOL

Asset handover

After care

RESISOPERATIONAL

FLOWDIAGRAM

RESIS Summary of Progress46 irrigation schemes started in 2004/05

(37% of 126 schemes)• RESIS introduction to local stakeholders:

100% complete• Pre-development surveys: 100% complete• Management Committees established:

46 schemes (100% complete)• Training commenced: 46 schemes (100%)

– Farmer crop training– Management committee training

• Infrastructure: Rehabilitation program in 20 schemes on going• Five Engineering Consultants’ appointed catering for R100 million

worth of infrastructure works• Various construction options, incl DWAF Term Contracts, labor

intensive construction techniques• Establishment of Multi-Disciplinary Team with all its specialists• Negotiations with Strategic Partners and financiers ongoing

(equity share holding model)• Full political support and HOD’s back up• Facing daily challenges and learning as going on• Plans in place to activate another R100 million worth of works

Monitoring & evaluationRequired by the National Guidelines:• Annual review of uptake of govt. support• Review of Agricultural Chapter in IDP• Monitoring of poverty indicators• Polling of awareness of govt. assistance

among farmers & officials• Monitoring of profitability of agricultural

water users• Tracking changes in youth interest in

agriculture

Revitalised schemes:Operational challenges

• Operation & maintenance of infrastructure

• Mechanisation!• Pumping & water supply costs• Market information & access• Absenteeism & ageing• Crop choices• Operational funds; production costs• Conservation of natural resources• Support services, extension, etc.

Some RESIS Gross Margins& comparing with minimum wage

R/unit R/ha/a R/ha/a R/ha/a 1ha 2ha 3ha R/hh(unit) (t/ha) (t/ha) (t/ha) R/hh R/hh R/hh (R730/month)

maize R 1,000 -R 692 -R 110 R 472dryland t 2 3 4

sunflower R 2,200 R 719 R 1,650 R 2,582irrigated t 1.5 2 2.5

cotton R 2,850 -R 3,615 -R 1,765 R 85irrigated t 2 3 4

lucerne R 25 -R 4,463 R 4,875 R 8,685irrigated 22kg yr0 yr1 ave

spinach R 1.50 R 5,298irrigated kg 12000

tomatoes-factory range R 8,050irrigated t 40

months

R 85

R 8,685

R 5,298

R 8,050

R 170

R 17,370

R 10,596

R 16,100

R 255

R 26,055

R 15,894

R 24,150 R 4,380

R 2,190

R 8,760

R 4,380 6

12

3

6

4

EQUIVALENT MINIMUM WAGE DURING SEASONGROSS MARGIN

R 2,582 R 5,164 R 7,746 R 3,650 5

R 472 R 944 R 1,416 R 2,920

CROP

PRICESEASON LENGTHHOUSEHOLD INCOME

RESIS Expected OutcomesAnticipated outcomes of implementation (=RESIS)

as stated in the National Guidelines:Equity: Constitution, BEE, household food security,

investment in vulnerable groupsGovernance: IRDP, LED, cooperative governance,

capacity building of local authorities, support for agricultural plans in IDPs, resourcing strategy

Competitiveness: entrepreneurial skills, productivity, profitability; increased HDI participation in national & export markets

Sustainability: natural resource use; appropriate technologies; farmer institutions; management transfer to farmers; increased youth in agriculture

Production: Annual Agricultural production value at R1 Billion

Social Accounting Matrix (SAM)Option 1

SECTOR TOTALRoads and Drainage Electricity Bulk Supply Electricity Reticulation Netw orkSanitation Bulk Treatment w orksSanitation Bulk Outfall PipelinesSanitation Reticulation netw orkWater Purif ication WorksWater Bulk PipelinesWater Reticulation Netw orkEntrepreneurial developmentHuman Resource DevelopmentAgriculture DrylandAgriculture Irrigation 1,080,000,000Agriculture Livestock

GRAND TOTAL 1,080,000,000

Impact of Total Investment on GDP 940,090,378Impact of Total investment on Employment 13,933Impact of Total investment on Low Income 120,860,757

Social Accounting Matrix (SAM)Option 2

SECTOR TOTALRoads and Drainage Electricity Bulk Supply Electricity Reticulation Netw orkSanitation Bulk Treatment w orksSanitation Bulk Outfall PipelinesSanitation Reticulation netw orkWater Purif ication WorksWater Bulk PipelinesWater Reticulation Netw orkEntrepreneurial development 54,000,000Human Resource Development 108,000,000Agriculture Dryland 162,000,000Agriculture Irrigation 540,000,000Agriculture Livestock 216,000,000

GRAND TOTAL 1,080,000,000

Impact of Total Investment on GDP 1,079,073,006Im pact of Total investm ent on Em ploym en 11,350Im pact of Total investm ent on Low Incom e 135,281,815

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